STATEN ISLAND, N.Y. -- Adversity couldn’t lay a glove on the three honorees at last night’s Black/American Achievement Awards Ceremony.

The event, held in the Brighton Heights Reformed Church, St. George, highlighted the struggles and recognized the triumphs of those honored by Borough President James Molinaro in recognition of Black History Month.

Crystal Weekes, Port Richmond, is a 14-year-old student at the Staten Island School for Civic Leadership; she is also a black belt in tae kwon do and is ranked the No. 1 junior heavyweight in the world.

Just last month, she qualified for the U.S. junior world team in the heavyweight division at the Olympic Training Center in Colorado, and she will travel to Egypt in April to compete at the Junior World Tae Kwon Do Championships.

Miss Weekes is one of five siblings raised by a single mother who at one point was living in a car for two years. The family’s resurgence has been nothing short of remarkable.

“What really drives me is my grandma, the most, and being able to help kids gain their confidence,” Miss Weekes said. “I’m honored to be able to be a person to inspire kids all around.”

Sparkle Mack, West Brighton, began smoking marijuana and drinking at 14 years old and fell into years of drug addiction despite having a stable family and a good upbringing.

After finally realizing that she needed help, Ms. Mack checked in to a drug and alcohol treatment program at Daytop, Mariners Harbor.

Now 26 years old, she has put her life back together and is working to become a dental assistant. Ms. Mack also volunteers at Daytop helping others like her, and she is training to become a drug and alcohol counselor to help even more folks face their problems.

“My hope for the future is to help others overcome addictions, and become a counselor and hopefully one day work at Daytop,” Ms. Mack said.

Dontae Hawkins of New Springville is a 19-year-old aspiring film maker studying at Long Island University who hopes one day to be the youngest director to win an Oscar.

Even at his relatively young age, he has overcome daunting odds: When he was 2 years old, he was caught in Stapleton crossfire and wounded. When he surprised doctors by surviving his injuries, they feared he might be paralyzed for life.

Three months later, Hawkins walked out of the hospital, but his struggle wasn’t over. In 2000, he was hit by a car, and just before he graduated from high school, he broke his leg in three places.

“Everyday, it’s like this hunger, like I need to create,” Hawkins said. “It just drives you to get up and do what you’re going to do.”

About 70 people turned out for last night’s ceremony. Mark Irving, director of public affairs for Con Edison and a March of Dimes board member, gave the keynote speech. Joanne Nuzzo represented the borough president, who was unable to attend.